Former Bad Axe coach Tom Brown retiring as commissioner of GLIAC

Published 2:29 pm, Friday, April 22, 2016

BAD AXE— Tom Brown remembers his last game as boys basketball coach at Bad Axe like it was yesterday.

Turns out, it was 47 years ago, in March of 1962.

"It was the district finals against Lakers," Brown recalled earlier this week. "Mike DeChane made a late basket, but the referee called it off and said it was after the buzzer. They beat us by two points."

The Lakers did win that game, 58-56, capturing district and regional crowns before being ousted in the Class B quarterfinals by Northville, 57-55.

"They had a very good team that year," Brown said.

A lot has happened to Brown in the nearly five decades since his final game with the Hatchets.

He started his own consulting firm, and has served in various capacities with Northwood University, including professor, men's basketball coach, athletic director, business manager, director of finance and operations, executive vice president, chancellor/chief operating officer, and president.

Since 1992, he's worked as commissioner of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. That reign comes to an end June 30 when he retires as the longest-serving GLIAC commissioner, dedicating 17 years to the advancement of the conference and its student-athletes.

As one of the five people who helped form the GLIAC back in the early 1970s, Brown is basically finishing what he started.

But he's not totally finished, that's for sure.

After attending Saginaw St. Andrew, Brown went on to play basketball and baseball at Central Michigan University. He was so good in baseball, in fact, he played in the Washington Senators' minor league system for a year before a knee injury forced him to give up baseball and come to Bad Axe to teach.

He was hired as a math teacher in the fall of 1959, and became head baseball and basketball coach, as well as an assistant football coach under Claude Marsh.

One of his former players, Bad Axe's Tom MacAlpine, remembers Brown as a good, solid coach.

"He was an intense, upbeat guy," MacAlpine said. "He was never negative."

In his first year with the Bad Axe basketball program, Brown led the Hatchets to league and district championships. The Hatchets also were quite competitive in football and baseball.

"We had some very successful teams," Brown said. "I remember we had three great linebackers. They were quick and tough."

Brown's stint at Bad Axe lasted only three years, but he has many fond memories.

"Even after I left, I came back in the fall of 1962 and would perch myself on top of a bus or something and would call plays for Coach Marsh," Brown said. "I enjoyed doing that."

Brown left Bad Axe to take a job in Saginaw as a claims adjuster, but quickly returned to education at Northwood (then Northwood Institute) when he was named men's basketball coach. He coached and taught math until 1967 when he moved to Northwood's Indiana campus in French Lick to become men's basketball coach and business manager there.

While in French Lick, he had the unique opportunity to watch NBA legend Larry Bird when he was a youngster.

"He was only in fourth grade or something like that, but we had a hard time keeping him out of the gym," Brown remembered.

Brown returned to Michigan in 1969 when he was named Northwood's administrative assistant to the president. He later served as director of finance and operations, executive vice president, chancellor, and chief operating officer. He became president in 1979.

While at Northwood in 1972, Brown was instrumental in helping form the GLIAC, whose charter members are Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University, Lake Superior State University, Saginaw Valley State University and Northwood.

His venture into the conference's commissioner position started in the early 1990s. With some persuasion from friends and his wife, Pat, Brown took over as commissioner Aug. 1, 1992.

"I was reluctant at first," Brown admits. "When I took over, it was like a part-time job."

After taking over, Brown set up three goals for the position.

"One, I wanted to make it an important job," he said. "Two, I wanted to make the GLIAC a good, solid conference. And, three, I wanted to make it financially stable."

Brown has made good on those goals. The GLIAC is considered one of the premier Division II conferences in the country. It sponsors 20 sports, and has won numerous national championships. Most recently, the University of Findlay men's basketball team won the Division II national championship with a 56-53 win over Cal Poly Pomona, finishing 36-0 on the season.

As commissioner, Brown's duties include all NCAA compliance rules, setting up budgets, awards and contracts, dealing with transfer issues, the press and parents.

"There always seems to be a desk full of work, that's for sure," he said.

The GLIAC has seen its share of changes since Brown has been commissioner. When he started, it was a 10-member conference comprised of Michigan schools. Since then, it’s had several makeovers, including inviting schools in from Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana. And just this week, the GLIAC announced it has granted provisional membership to Lake Erie College (Ohio) and Ohio Dominican University, beginning July 1, 2010, making it a 14-member conference.

"The ultimate goal is to have 16 members, with two eight-team divisions," Brown said.

Earlier this month, Brown was named the 2009 recipient of the Tom Donahue Service Award, presented annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the GLIAC and intercollegiate athletics. The award winners exemplify the high standard of dedication to the league and its student-athletes set by Tom Donahue, former commissioner of the GLIAC.

"It's a great honor," Brown said.

Brown keeps in touch with his former Bad Axe players at least once a year at the annual Claude Marsh golf outing.

"We get to see him every year at the golf event," MacAlpine said. "He's been very supportive to Mrs. Marsh…

"And he's a pretty good golfer, too."

Added Brown: "It's fun coming back to play and seeing those guys."

Brown still plans to do consulting work, and might dabble in fundraising and working with smaller NAIA schools considering the jump to the NCAA level.

"I've worked constantly since I was a sophomore in high school," Brown said. "I hope I can do enough to keep my sanity."

Brown and his wife, Pat, reside in Linwood. They are parents of four daughters, Suzanne, Cheryl, Carol and Jeanette.